Peru FTA Gets Strong, Bipartisan Support

By 14-2, the Senate Finance Committee on Friday approved draft implementation language for a trade agreement with Peru in a “mock” markup of the legislation.

When Republicans controlled Congress and the Finance Committee approved an earlier implementation measure in July 2006, only two Democrats supported it. This time Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan was the only Democrat to vote against the measure.

Now that Democrats are in charge, they managed to secure long-sought labor and environmental standards, along with some other changes, in the Peru agreement earlier this year.

The House Ways and Means Committee will hold its mock markup on Tuesday, September 25th. Chairman Charlie Rangel spoke to his Democratic caucus on Wednesday arguing for passage of the Peru FTA, evidence of a new bipartisan approach on trade.

“Trade policy should be an issue where, on every agreement, there should be an “American stamp” indicating that it represents the values we hold so dear,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel. “We have an opportunity to do this with consideration of the US-Peru FTA.”